|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USN FAW-1 VP-91 |
Pilot Lt(jg) Gordon B. Snyder, 0-099695 USNR (MIA / KIA) CA Co-Pilo Lt(jg) James R. C. McGovern, 0-099921 USNR (MIA / KIA) Brooklyn, NY Crew Ltjg. Richard A. Rasmussen 0-099763 USNR (MIA / KIA) Bronx, NY Crew AP1 Wilbur V. Pugh, 3368125 (survived) Sedalia, MO Crew ACMM Robert R. Sayers, 2384358 (MIA / KIA) Coxsackie, NY Crew AMM1 Charles L. Murray, 2913627 (MIA / KIA) Logansport, IN Crew ARM2 Joseph Kopicko, 2072322 (MIA / KIA) Gardner, CT Crew ARM3 Clifford T. Phillips, 2686932 (MIA / KIA) GA Crashed October 15, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PBY-5 Catalina bureau number 2297. Wartime History Assigned to Fleet Air Wing 1 (FAW-1), Patrol Squadron 91 (VP-91). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On October 15, 1942 took off from Peou Bay (Pallu Passage) off Vanikoro Island (Vanikolo) piloted by Lt(jg) Gordon B. Snyder on a patrol and planned to then land at Espiritu Santo. While on patrol, intercepted by two A6M2 Zeros from Hiyo that set the fuel tank on fire and and caused it do descend from 6,000'. The crew managed to send out a distress call before the plane forced landed in the open ocean. On impact, the Catalina plunged underwater and the nose was ripped open causing seawater to rush into the fuselage and trap the crew inside. Only AP1 Wilbur V. Pugh in the nose was push out and came to the surface with injuries. The rest of the crew were trapped inside and down with the Catalina as it sank. When this Catalina failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was PBY-5 Catalina 04507 pilot Lt(jg) Dighton L. Polan (MIA). Fates of the Crew Pugh was injured with a dislocated shoulder and compound fracture to one of his legs and grabbed a seabag that floated to the surface to use as a life preserver and managed to grab hold of one of the wing floats that had broken off remained afloat. Rescue Afterwards, Pugh was rescued by PBY-5 Catalina pilot Lt. Richard "Dick" J. Teich from VP-91. Memorials The crew that went missing were officially declared dead the day of the mission and earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Pugh passed away in 2012. He is buried at Barrancas National Cemetery at section 40 site 434. Teich passed away November 7, 2003. He has an unknown burial, likely in his hometown of Troy, NY. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - PBY-5 Catalina 2297 USN Overseas Loss List - PBY-5 Catalina 2297 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gordon B. Snyder FindAGrave - LtJG Gordon B Snyder (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James R. C. McGovern FindAGrave - LTJG James Robert Carey McGovern V (obituary, tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard A. Rasmussen FindAGrave - LTJG Richard Arthur Rasmussen (tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert Rouse Sayers FindAGrave - ACMM Robert Rouse Sayers (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles L. Murray FindAGrave - AMM1 Charles Lee Murray (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Charles Lee Murray (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph Kopicko FindAGrave - Joseph Kopicko (photo, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Clifford T. Phillips FindAGrave - ARM3 Clifford T Phillips (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Wilbur Vernon “Bill” Pugh (photo, grave photos) National Museum of Naval Aviation - Artifacts Watch Worn by AMM1c Wilbur V. Pugh On the Day He Was Shot Down via Wayback Machine May 13, 2006 "This watch was on the wrist of Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class Wilbur V. Pugh when he was the sole survivor of the crew of a PBY Catalina of Patrol Squadron (VP) 91 shot down by Japanese fighters off Guadalcanal on 15 October 1942. While his aircraft was conducting a search of the waters around Guadalcanal for an incoming Japanese fleet, it was jumped by two Japanese fighters. Enemy fire ignited the flying boat's fuel tank, sending it down in flames from an altitude of 6,000 ft. At the time. Push was positioned in the bow of the PBY at the ready to inflate th life rafts when the aircraft leveled off for a forced landing. However, the plunged into the water, ripping open the forward hull. The incoming water somehow pushed Pugh through the opening at the top of the gun turret in the nose. He came to the surface badly injured with a dislocated shoulder and compound fracture to one of his legs. Seeing the seabag of one of his crewmates float to the surface, he grabbed on to it, and then made his way to one of the aircraft's wing floats, that had broken off and was floating nearby. He was soon rescued by another PBY, whose crew had monitored the radio distress signals of the aircraft in which Pugh was flying. He was the only survivor of the plane's eight-man crew." DeGraaf-Bryce Funeral Home - Richard John Teich Obituary November 7, 2003 Thanks to Jim Sawruk for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated February 17, 2024 |
 PBY  MIA 7 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
